While appearing on “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa,” the media icon mentioned dropping something off at their home but jokingly stretched out their last name, “Sussex,” turning it into a funny tongue‑twister.
The lighthearted moment quickly spread online, giving fans a glimpse of her close friendship with the couple and showing that even royals can be part of a good joke.
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Oprah Winfrey Pokes Fun At Harry And Meghan’s Last Name
On Wednesday, listeners could tell Oprah Winfrey was in a good mood as she chatted with Kelly Ripa about life in Montecito.
During the discussion, the television personality brought her neighbors, Harry and Meghan, into it after the host asked Winfrey if she would enjoy receiving baby chicks as gifts.
In response, Winfrey said she would send it to Harry and Meghan, after which she poked fun at their last name.
“I’d run them straight over to the Sussexes,” she said per the Daily Mail and then added extra “xesssses” at the end, turning the name into a tongue twister.
The 71-year-old didn’t stop there, as she repeated “the Sussexes” for good measure.
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Winfrey Recalls Duck Incident Involving The Sussexes

Following the lighthearted comment, Oprah Winfrey shared another comical experience she had with the couple.
The icon recounted an Easter encounter involving a duck emergency at Meghan and Harry’s Montecito home.
“I get a call from Harry, Prince Harry on Easter Saturday, and he says, ‘Sorry to bother you, O, but we have a duck problem here,’” Winfrey recalled.
According to the TV producer, a mother duck had laid eggs and was caring for her chicks in their pond.
“And he said, ‘Our pond is a stream, we don’t have a pond, so can we bring the ducks over to your pond?’” she continued.
Winfrey said she agreed but pleaded with Harry to be patient as her best friend Gayle King’s grandchildren, who were coming over, would love to see the ducks being transferred.
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Oprah Winfrey Says Harry Didn’t Give In To Her Plea

However, Winfrey’s words were brushed aside as Harry insisted on moving the ducks immediately.
“I said, ‘Wait until I can get the kids to come down to the pond so they can see you put the ducks in the pond.’ And he goes, ‘No, we’re coming over right away, we’re coming over!’” she continued.
Winfrey revealed she finally agreed, but what followed was a chaotic but joyous and hilarious backyard duck chase.
“As he opens the door, the mama duck flies out. And he’s got all the baby ducks in the box,” the talk show host explained. “We’re chasing the mama duck who is in the front yard and has flown to the other side. We’ve got her ducks. Harry’s running after, Meghan gets out, she’s running after, chasing the mom and trying to get her to come back to her ducks.”
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Winfrey Describes The Chaos As The ‘Funniest’ Thing Ever
Oprah Winfrey noted that the chaotic chase continued for about thirty minutes, adding that it was “the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Kelly Ripa, also in stitches over the story, jumped in, noting that the ducks were clever in picking a nesting spot.
She stated that they hit the jackpot, adding, “They’re like, ‘Wait a minute, we show up at Prince Harry’s house and now we’re at Oprah’s!’ Excuse me. That duck knew what it was doing when it laid its eggs.”
Meghan also gave fans a glimpse of the beautiful birds, sharing a clip of the mama duck and her babies on her Instagram page over Easter.
She simply captioned the post, “Wishing you a happy Easter full of love… and surprises!”
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Harry And Meghan Reportedly Unhappy About Oprah Winfrey’s Joke

Meanwhile, there are reports that Harry and Meghan are stung by Winfrey’s joke about their Sussex titles.
A Hollywood insider told Rob Shuter that Winfrey’s playful jab may have hit a nerve with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
While the source emphasized that Oprah “meant no harm,” they noted that Harry and Meghan are “sensitive” to anything that “makes them sound like a meme.”
Given that Winfrey has long been seen as a “trusted media ally,” the “stung” couple reportedly didn’t take the joke lightly.
“Let’s just say… the Sussexes probably aren’t clucking with joy,” the insider quipped.
A royal watcher added that both Prince Harry and Meghan understand the significance of Oprah’s words, and that only deepens the sting.